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16 April, 2012

Islamabad - Deep inside the small town of Rawalpindi, Pir Wadhai where the
roads are rough and surrounded with heaps of garbage, there is a place for the
working children where they can relax, learn and play. Among them is an 8-
year-old girl, Kiran, a regular garbage-picker but she dreams of having a big
beautiful house of her own. Her dream to bring a visible change in her
family’s lifestyle seems a little closer to reality after attending last six
weeks in a rare classroom where she is learning Urdu, English and also sewing.
“I have a dream of living in a beautiful house with my family” said Kiran in a
softened voice.

Kiran is one of the many kids who come to attend 3-hour schooling daily at
Children Drop-in Centre managed by Society for the Protection of the Rights of
the Child (SPARC) and financed by a German NGO, Kindernothilfe (KNH) in Fauji
colony at Pir Wadhai where the marginalised children of society are offered an
opportunity to dream of a better future.

Sana JamalIslamabad – In the background of recent tragedy in Siachen, an expert
suggested on Monday that a ‘third party” should ensure the preservation of
Siachen glaciers by limiting the military activities at the highest peak.
Speaking at a seminar here on Monday, Arshad H. Abbasi, Water and Energy
Adviser said that “it is high time to make a joint appeal to UN for the
protection of our glaciers by turning it into a peace park for good bilateral
relations” as the melting of the glaciers would not only be a threat to
Pakistan and India but to other regional countries.
Three important reasons cited as the main causes of fast melting of glaciers
are: global warming, deposition of carbon content on glaciated ice and heavy
military presence and activities. “Prevalence of black carbon content is one
of the major reasons behind the melting of Siachen Glacier, one of the
Himalayan glaciers and the largest in the world outside of the polar regions”
pointed out Dr Qamar uz Zaman Chaudhry, Advisor Climate Affairs speaking at
the seminar on ‘Climate Change and Siachen Glacier: A Global Challenge’
organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).